Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“You’re the one who’s going to wish she got away, Mistress,” Thrax growled, taking a step towards her. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten all the fucked-up shit you put me through!”
“Of course I remember your training,” Mistress Stoneheart said coolly. “The question is, do you?” She pointed a finger at him. “You do, don’t you? So why don’t you kneel for me, my beautiful boy?”
Andi, who had been watching this exchange with her heart pounding, stared in disbelief as her enormous, menacing partner suddenly went to his knees. The fury on his face was wiped away in an instant to be replaced by a cold blankness that was even more frightening to behold.
“Now, then—that’s better, isn’t it?” Mistress Stoneheart purred. “Aren’t you feeling better now, Thrax, dear?”
“Yes, Mistress.” His voice was low and mechanical—almost robotic. It sent chills down Andi’s spine to hear her partner speak like that.
“After all these years, you’re back where you belong—with me.”
The Yonnite Mistress reached for Thrax. She would have taken his face in her hands but Andi stepped between them.
“I don’t think so,” she snapped, glaring up at the taller woman. “Thrax is mine! My partner—er, male-wife. So keep your hands off him!”
“Oh dear—please excuse me.” Mistress Stoneheart stepped back with elaborate courtesy. “I had no idea he had a new owner.”
“Well, he does!” Andi lifted her chin. “So I’d like you to undo whatever it was that you did to him.” She waved at her partner, who was still kneeling there with a blank look on his face.
“Merely a little light hypnosis—it’s necessary for safety when dealing with such a big, powerful male—I’m sure you’ll agree,” Mistress Stoneheart said coolly. “It will wear off on its own in a few minutes.” She looked at Queen Pantyitch. “Well, thank you for this little taste of my past, but I’m more than fatigued—I really must get to my sleep quarters now.”
“I’m sorry I brought you out here for nothing,” Queen Pantyitch apologized. “I thought this male would be our next stud, but he produces hardly any seed at all.” She held up the plasticine bag as proof.
“Really?” Mistress Stoneheart raised one eyebrow. “It’s been years since I owned him, but as I recall, he was quite a big producer. Not that I ever let my males come very often. But still…”
“Look, can we go to bed now?” Andi asked, interrupting their conversation. “I’m tired. And so is my male-wife.” She cast a sidelong glance at Thrax, who was still kneeling mutely at her side. “Er, I think he is, anyway. When is he going to snap out of this?” she demanded. It was unnerving to see her partner like this—blank and totally disconnected from reality.
“In a few minutes,” Mistress Stoneheart promised. “In the meantime, if you want him to do something, simply give him a command. Thrax, rise and follow this, er, person wherever she leads you,” she said, waving vaguely at Andi.
Without a word, Thrax rose silently and smoothly and stood beside Andi. He looked expectantly down at her and she realized he was waiting for a command.
“Come on, Thrax—we’re going to our room,” she said. She started walking, hoping he would follow and also hoping that Queen Pantyitch didn’t try to stop her.
Luckily, their hostess and Mistress Stoneheart stepped silently aside and let them pass. Andi continued on out of the lounge and down the long metal hallway that led to their guest suite.
She had no idea what was going on with Thrax but she desperately hoped that he really would snap out of the trance he was in.
Otherwise, what was she going to do?
20
THRAX
“Thrax? Thrax? Wake up! Wake up, now!”
Thrax blinked his eyes. Someone was snapping their fingers in front of his face. Was it the Mistress? He vaguely remembered seeing her—she had looked the same as ever—as though twenty years hadn’t passed since their last encounter.
But now, it was Andi’s face that swam into view when he was finally able to focus.
“Andi?” his voice came out in a hoarse croak and he coughed and cleared his throat which was dry as sandpaper. Great—all he needed was for this Thirst to start bothering him when he was nowhere near a blood donor. “Where am I?” he rasped out. “What’s going on?”
“We’re at Queen Pantyitch’s milking farm and you’ve been acting weird ever since you met her business partner, Mistress Stoneheart,” Andi told him. She had a worried look on her face. “In fact, I got the idea that you’d met her before.”
“Really?” Thrax shifted uncomfortably on the bed, where he was sitting. The tail inside him was a pressing presence he wished he could get rid of. “What makes you say that?” he asked.
“Oh, I don’t know—maybe the way you nearly attacked her and then she hypnotized you and turned you into a mindless drone for the past fifteen minutes?” Andi straightened up and put her hands on her hips. “Don’t lie to me, Thrax—you’ve been acting strangely this whole mission. I have a right to know what’s going on with you!”